Interest in Oasis's back catalogue surged after the band's reunion tour in 2025. That renewed attention helped (What's The Story) Morning Glory? overtake The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in the Official Charts Company's list of the UK's most popular albums of all time.
The Gallagher brothers' 1995 album, which includes Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger, is now third on the all-time best-sellers list. The Beatles' 1967 psychedelic masterpiece, which was third on the same list a decade ago, has dropped to number five.
Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits remains the biggest-selling album overall, with Abba Gold from 1992 in second place, while Adele's 2011 album 21 has moved up to fourth place. The all-time list was released on Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the weekly UK album chart.
In total, (What's The Story) Morning Glory? has racked up 6.2 million UK chart units, combining streams and sales, according to the Official Charts Company. Last year, there was renewed interest in Oasis's music because of their much publicised worldwide reunion tour, and the setlist relied heavily on songs from the album, including Some Might Say and Champagne Supernova.
In 2022, Queen's compilation LP became the first album to pass seven million UK chart units. Only Swedish pop group Abba have crossed the seven million mark since, placing them in an elite club.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac's 1977 classic Rumours and Bob Marley's best-of album Legend have both moved into the all-time top 10 over the past 10 years.
UK Official Albums Chart - all-time top 10
(What's the Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Legend - Bob Marley and The Wailers
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? received surprisingly mixed reviews from the British music press when it was released in October 1995, but it has stood the test of time. Wonderwall, from the album, became hugely popular again this summer with England fans and players singing it together at the World Cup in North America.
The booming ballad Don't Look Back in Anger also took on greater significance after it was sung, impromptu, at a vigil for those who lost their lives in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim co-managing directors of the Official Charts, congratulated Oasis on the album's achievements in a joint statement.
“Three decades on, its scale and influence remain extraordinary - a defining British record that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack lives,”
Olivia Rodrigo tops 2020s chart
The chart, which is released every Friday in the UK, began on 22 July 1956, when Frank Sinatra's Songs for Swingin' Lovers! became the first number one. Reflecting more recent tastes, the Charts Company has also published a list of the most-streamed albums of the 2020s, led by Olivia Rodrigo's Sour.
The US singer's breakout record, which includes Drivers License and Good 4 U, has spent a total of 268 weeks on the chart since its release in June 2021. Recent Glastonbury headliner Rodrigo pipped Ed Sheeran's = and Taylor Swift's Folklore to the top spot.
Swift has two albums in the top 10, which also includes records by Sabrina Carpenter, Noah Kahan, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, SZA and late US rapper Pop Smoke.
The UK's most-streamed albums of the 2020s so far include Short N' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter and Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon by Pop Smoke.
